Around 2009, a young doctor found himself desperately seeking funds for his father’s lung cancer treatment. Each round of chemotherapy cost Rs 25,000, and a single strip of life-saving medication was Rs 15,000.
Dr Ravinder, who had only recently completed his MBBS, had to rely on the generosity of a few senior colleagues to afford the necessary medications. Thanks to their help, his father survived for three more years. Despite being a doctor, Ravinder struggled to secure the best care for his family. This made the Warangal resident wonder: if he, as a doctor, faced such challenges, what hope did others have?
He endured countless sleepless nights, worrying about the cost of medical care while desperately seeking treatment for his father. The constant struggle was, of course, financial. Over time, he realised the importance of providing healthcare at an affordable rate, and even free for those in dire need.
“No one should die because of poor economic conditions,” says Dr Ravinder Chowkidaar, who has added the suffix as he wants to be the protector. “I want to protect your health and future,” he adds.
To make healthcare accessible, the general surgeon founded the Sushruta Foundation in 2009 at Thurputhanda in Telangana’s Warangal district. Over the past 15 years, he has helped thousands access quality healthcare by conducting free weekly camps in villages, waiving his surgeon’s fees, and charging a minimal amount to those who can afford it.
‘I know the importance of one day’s wage’
Born in Thurputhanda, a remote tribal and forest area, the 40-year-old had a challenging childhood. His father, a daily wage worker, worked tirelessly to provide a good education for Ravinder and his younger brother.
Ravinder recalls walking nearly 8 km to school every day, regardless of the weather — through hail, rain, or sunshine. “We lived in a Maoist region, which was very volatile in the 90s. Our school lacked proper infrastructure or teachers. We would study under the trees with just one teacher,” recalls Ravinder.
Despite all these challenges, he remained determined to study hard and serve others. Benevolent strangers supported his journey by providing books, guidance, and mentorship, ensuring he received a good education. With their financial assistance, he was able to pursue intermediate education in the nearby village of Gangaram. Their generosity left a deep impression on him, inspiring him to dedicate his life to serving others.
He completed his MBBS at Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad, followed by an MS in general surgery from Kakatiya Medical College in Warangal. Afterwards, he returned to work at Gangaram and began his career as an assistant professor of general surgery in Mahabubabad.
Here, he often saw many daily wage workers waiting for their surgeries or treatments. It’s well-known that while medical care is available at government hospitals, the process can be lengthy.
“I saw an agricultural labourer who visited the government hospital from almost 60 km away. After coming to the OPD, losing one day’s wage in the process, he was asked to come next week for surgery, which would yet again entail losing three to four days of earning,” says Ravinder.
At the start of his career as a medical officer, he was profoundly affected by his father’s cancer diagnosis and the difficulty in affording treatment. After navigating this challenging experience with the support of senior colleagues, he made a vow to ensure that no one else would have to endure such a situation.
Dr Ravinder officially established Sushruta Hospital in 2016.
‘Healthcare is a right, not privilege’
Sushruta Hospital offers a range of specialists — including a general physician, surgeon, oncologist, onco-surgeon, and gastroenterologist. Dr Ravinder explains that they waive all consultation and surgery fees for patients, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder access to care.
“We charge 20 percent of the medication and anaesthesia charges. What costs lakhs outside is done at almost 1/4th the cost here. The medical care and quality of surgeons is the same,” he says.
Dr Ravinder begins his day as an assistant professor of surgery at his medical college, working from 9 am to 2 pm. Afterwards, he goes to Sushruta Hospital, where he stays until 10 pm, attending to patients.
Aleem, who comes from a village 30 km away from Sushruta, met Dr Ravinder during a medical camp. His sister required a hysterectomy but couldn’t afford private hospitals. Aleem says that Dr Ravinder performed the surgery entirely free of charge, only requesting payment for a unit of blood that his sister needed.
“He didn’t charge for the surgery or stay. While other hospitals had asked for Rs 1 lakh, we only spent a few thousand here,” says Aleem.
Besides surgery, the surgeon also conducts medical camps and awareness camps every Sunday in nearby villages. “My father used to chew tobacco, which is very prevalent in villages even today. I want to educate people about the harmful effects of such habits to ensure that they lead a good, healthy life,” says Dr Ravinder.
In these camps, he raises awareness about basic healthcare and critical symptoms that should not be ignored. Villagers also learn about his trust, which they can turn to whenever they need assistance. “My idea is to provide good quality healthcare fast, so that people can go back to their regular lives soon, instead of waiting,” he says.
The foundation is also sponsoring education for medical students, with four students each receiving Rs 1 lakh this year. Dr Ravinder and the six other members of the foundation contribute 20 percent of their monthly earnings to support the foundation and purchase the costly equipment necessary for advanced surgeries. To date, they have funded the foundation entirely through their personal contributions.
Badavath Ganesh, a third-year MBBS student at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Adilabad was able to pay his first-year tuition fees thanks to the doctor. Hailing from a daily wagers’ family, Ganesh was struggling to pay his admission fees when he came in contact with Dr Ravinder.
“Ravinder sir has helped me greatly over the past three years. Besides paying for the tuition and hostel fees, he has also been sponsoring my books every year. He paid almost Rs 1 lakh in the first year when I needed it the most. He came to my house after hearing my story and personally met me,” says Ganesh.
Without generational wealth or significant assets, Dr Ravinder is setting an inspiring example of how we can lead enriching lives not through financial means, but by helping those in need. In a world where healthcare is often considered a luxury, he stands out as a tireless advocate for the underprivileged, working relentlessly to make medical care accessible to everyone.
Edited by Pranita Bhat, Images Courtesy Dr Ravinder
